The Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge 2025 wrapped up last week, and the results confirm what Cape Town wine lovers already know: Chenin Blanc is the white wine star of the South African cellar.
After six rounds of blind tastings, the judges picked their winners – all from the 2024 vintage – with Stellenbosch once more flexing its muscles. Four of the 10 winners come from the region, including three from Stellenrust, the most consistent winner in the competition's history.
Throw in wines from Franschhoek, Paarl, the Swartland and Breedekloof and the awards offer an excellent snapshot of just how widely (and brilliantly) South Africa makes Chenin. Here are the winners of the 2025 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top Ten Challenge... in alphabetical order:
- Alvi's Drift Private Cellar's 221 Chenin Blanc 2024
- Chamonix Wine Farm's Old Vine Steen 2024
- Du Toitskloof Winery's Pierre Du Mont 2024
- Joostenberg Wines' Die Agteros Chenin Blanc 2024
- Ken Forrester Wines' The FMC 2024
- Roodekrantz Wines' Die Kliphuis 2024
- Stellenrust's Stellenbosch Manor Barrel fermented Chenin Blanc 2024
- Stellenrust's Stellenbosch Manor Chenin Blanc 2024
- Stellenrust's B28 Chenin Blanc 2024
- Stettyn Family Vineyards' Shackleton Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2024
But, not all award-winners are created equal.
Having that shiny label on the bottle helps to drive sales, and perhaps gives an indication of the quality inside, but for most of us, price counts for more than silverware.
So here's something to consider: if these are the top 10 Chenin Blancs South Africa has to offer, how much do they sell for? Would you rather pay more, or less, for one of the best? Because, alongside quality, let's look at value: in the top 10 winners this year, the price tags run from a pocket-friendly R99 all the way up to a rather pricey R925! So which would you buy? To make your Chenin shopping a little easier, here are those winners again… in order of price*.
- R99: Stellenrust – Stellenbosch Manor Chenin Blanc 2024
- R120: Alvi's Drift – 221 Chenin Blanc 2024
- R129: Du Toitskloof – Pierre Du Mont Chenin Blanc 2024
- R150: Stellenrust – Stellenbosch Manor Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
- R235: Joostenberg – Die Agteros Chenin Blanc 2024
- R250: Stettyn Family Vineyards – Shackleton Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2024
- R259: Stellenrust – B28 Chenin Blanc
- R475: Chamonix – Old Vine Steen 2024
- R495: Roodekrantz – Die Kliphuis Old Vine Chenin Blanc
- R925: Ken Forrester – The FMC 2024
Which would you buy? I think I know where my money's going...
But there's a good-news twist for shoppers too. This year, for the first time in the 12-year history of the Chenin Blanc Challenge, all 10 wines will be on sale nationwide through TOPS! at SPAR from 30 September. Limited quantities, of course.
*Time Out has made every effort to source accurate, up-to-date pricing, where possible sourced from the winery's own online retail store. Any errors will be corrected when notified.
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